Life Lessons

Friday June 19, 2015

Life lessons. I find, at times, they are really hard to take in. I have discovered these past couple months that I do not really care to write/blog/share when I feel unsure or confused. But today I woke up with the sense that I needed to do just that.

You see, I’ve been tired. I’ve been tired for what feels like forever. Not just the ‘I’ve put in a days work and need to rest’ tired. I believe I’m experiencing that fatigue I have heard others describe. For me, it’s a confusing level of fatigue. It results from a short, easy bike ride. It sets in after the most trivial of physical exertion. It leaves me completely exhausted and in absolute need of sleep. I will then have the deepest of sleeps only to wake up feeling like I’m stuck in plastic wrap, unable to move my body.

Then, of course, comes the mental fog that clouds the mind. It results in the inability to think straight. There are struggles with decision making, self-doubt and insecurities that follow when you don’t feel like you quite have it together. And then the insidious thoughts start to creep in. Those thoughts that whine, “I’m only fifty! This isn’t supposed to be happening!”

So, what do you do? I mean that as a true question; what do You do? I would love to learn from you, hear your stories, your successes and the journeys you are still on. I don’t have all the answers. Life has been very good to me but there are days when I simply feel lost in this disease. So I welcome your thoughts and the opportunity to share your experience.

What I do in these circumstances is sleep when I need to sleep. I take the ten minutes to get out of bed that is needed after that sleep! I have seen my doctors recently… all of them (it would seem I’m amassing quit the collection). I’m walking. Running and cycling absolutely exhaust me so I’m walking. I’m thinking about work in that I do too much of it and something is going to have to give at some point.

In short, I’m doing my level best to ‘Live Your Best’. I’m trying to live out my own message in the midst of making sense of my own disease. I think a part of that is to share with you, my Parkinson’s community, that “Tim Sr., Winner of The Amazing Race Canada” doesn’t win every day. Sometimes, like you, I simply persevere and make it through the day.

Alrighty then, I think we will leave the melancholy aside now and look to the sky! What are the good things that we can look forward to? I do believe I have noted here that my first grandchild will arrive this August! Mom to be, Kara, is doing fantastic and we all eagerly anticipate the birth of this little one.

For all you folks associated with the Northwest Parkinson’s Foundation I am looking forward to being back in the Seattle area this next October 24th. I look forward to speaking at the annual Celebrate! Dinner & Fundraiser and hope you will mark your calendar to come join us for a great evening.

I am also looking forward to being back in Chicago next month for the American Parkinson Disease Association’s Leadership Convention. Not only do I love Chicago but also I look forward to making many new friends.

Two very exciting events that I should mention: this past May, I had the opportunity to travel to Madrid, Spain to speak for Abbvie Pharmaceutical. Next October I will be flying to Malaysia to speak for the Davis Phinney Foundation. I am so very thrilled to be able to bring my message of Live Your Best to these incredible destinations.

I am so looking forward to connecting with many of you in Portland next September, 2016, at the World Parkinson Congress! This is such an important event for all of us in this struggle! Do mark your calendar, start saving your loonies, twoonies and dollars to get there. (If you don’t know what loonies and twoonies are you’re going to have to ask me in Portland!) You do not want to miss out on this incredible event that brings together the brightest minds fighting this disease. This includes researchers, patients, caregivers and a whole host of others. Plan to be there!

As always, do your Best today! Have the courage to be content with your best and persevere don’t let this thing called Parkinson’s have your life today! Have a great day!

Strength & Courage, Tim

Tim Hague Sr. is an author, internationally sought after professional speaker and Winner of The Amazing Race Canada season #1. Tim was diagnosed with Young Onset Parkinson’s Disease at the age of 46. He hails from Winnipeg Canada where he resides with his wife and children. For event bookings or to learn more about Tim go to www.TimSr.ca.